India: Christianity

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the outcome of the visit to Orissa state of a delegation of the EU Delegation to India; and whether  (a) the Government and  (b) the EU plans any follow-up action to assist in community reconciliation.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 22 March 2010
	The EU delegation visited Orissa from 2-5 February and met Government and police officials, civil society and victims in Bhubaneswar and Kandhamal. They noted that local authorities have made some progress on rehabilitation and resettlement, and continue to work to address displacement and justice issues. The EU delegation also identified cross-community peace-building initiatives and improving the capacity of victims lawyers as important areas to address.
	The EU delegation investigated what action was being taken towards community reconciliation in their discussions with the Government authorities and civil society. They were informed of a range of activities such as street theatre, music, vocational, and educational initiatives focusing on building lasting peace between the communities. Peace and national integration camps have also been set up and a peace initiative called 'Antaranga' involving more than 150 youth organisations from all the local communities has also been established with the support of non-governmental organisations. The delegation are assessing the outcomes of their visit, including the question of follow-up.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he  (a) has taken during the last six months and  (b) plans to take during the next six months to tackle the shipment of weapons and funds from Iran to (i) Afghanistan, (ii) Iraq, (iii) Lebanon and (iv) Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We have serious concerns about Iranian support for Iraqi militia groups, the Taleban, Hizballah, Hamas and other Palestinian Rejectionist Groups, including weapons, funds and training. This is unacceptable. It further undermines international confidence in the Iranian regime's intentions, and is at odds with the regime's claim to the international community and its own people that it supports stability in the middle east and Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 12 November 2009,  Official Report, column 625W, on ministerial policy advisers, how many times the Special Envoy for Sri Lanka has visited that country since his appointment.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Des Browne) visited Sri Lanka in May 2009 as part of a cross party delegation of Members of Parliament.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised the issue of Tibet  (a) privately and  (b) publicly during his recent visit to China; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: During my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's visit to China he raised the issue of Tibet with Premier Wen and Foreign Minister Yang. He expressed our continued concern at the situation in Tibet, including the heavy security presence, and restrictions on freedom of expression and religion. He welcomed the resumption of the talks between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama but emphasised that the talks must be substantive to be successful.
	Following his visit, the UK and China held a human rights dialogue. This was a further opportunity for us to raise our concerns about Tibet. In advance of the dialogue we have handed over a list of 42 cases, of concern, a number of which relate to Tibet, affecting 56 individuals.

Census

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2010,  Official Report, column 795, on the 2011 Census, what the most recent estimate is of the  (a) absolute response rate in terms of number of respondents and  (b) percentage response rate in each of the pilot local authority areas for the 2011 Census rehearsals; in which (i) wards and (ii) postcode areas rehearsals were held in each of the pilot areas; and what criteria were used to select the sub-areas.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2010, Official Report, column 795, on the 2011 Census, what the most recent estimate is of the (a) absolute response rate in terms of number of respondents and (b) percentage response rate in each of the pilot local authority areas for the 2011 Census rehearsals; in which (i) wards and (ii) postcode areas rehearsals were held in each of the pilot areas; and what the criteria were by which the sub-areas were selected. (318330)
	The rehearsal was unlike the Census in that it was voluntary and publicity was necessarily limited. It included 133,890 addresses (61,725 in Lancaster, 38,618 in Newham and 33,547 in Anglesey); 49,300 returns were received.
	In order to rehearse our procedures appropriately, 51% of addresses were pre-selected to be subject to the full follow-up process; the remainder were not followed up if they did not respond. In the Census itself, it is the intention that all non responding households will be followed up.
	(a) Measuring return rates from those 68,000 households subject to the full process, we had 27,500 returns (41%).
	(b) The percentage return rate in each of the rehearsal local authority areas is:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 Lancaster 48 
			 Newham 28 
			 Anglesey 49 
		
	
	(i) and (ii) All wards in Lancaster and Anglesey were included in the rehearsal.
	Areas in Newham were selected by lower super output areas, a statistical geography, which do not always align with ward boundaries. All or part of the wards and postcode sectors shown at Annex A were part of the Newham rehearsal.
	The particular criteria for choosing sub-areas in Newham were that they should contain around 40,000 households, a number of communal establishments and a traveller site; that they should have high concentrations of multiple occupancy and students; that they should be contiguous. The areas were chosen in order to reflect some of the particular challenges representative of hard to enumerate areas.
	 Annex A
	 (i) Wards in which the rehearsal was held
	All wards in Lancaster and Anglesey and the following in Newham:
	
		
			  Ward reference  Ward name  LA name  Level of ward inclusion 
			 OOBBGU Stratford and New Town Newham Whole 
			 OOBBGG East Ham Central Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGK Forest Gate North Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGD Canning Town North Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGF Custom House Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGE Canning Town South Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGS Plaistow South Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGB Beckton Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGJ East Ham South Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGX West Ham Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGT Royal Docks Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGL Forest Gate South Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGH East Ham North Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGC Boleyn Newham Partial 
			 OOBBGW Wall End Newham Partial 
		
	
	 (ii) Postcode areas
	 Newham
	E1
	E12
	E13
	E15
	E16
	E3
	E6
	E7
	 Lancaster
	CH3
	LA1
	LA2
	LA3
	LA4
	LA5
	LA6
	LA7
	PR3
	 Anglesey
	LL00
	LL58
	LL59
	LL60
	LL61
	LL62
	LL63
	LL64
	LL65
	LL66
	LL67
	LL68
	LL69
	LL70
	LL71
	LL72
	LL73
	LL74
	LL75
	LL76
	LL77
	LL78